ES2399679B1 - METHOD FOR THE REDUCTION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND RADIO INTERFERENCE IN A RADIO ACCESS NODE - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for reducing energy consumption and radio interference in a radio access node. # It comprises turning on and off at least part of said radio access node, such as a radio section with femtonodo functionality and / or other radio sections, in depending on, respectively, the reception by said radio access node of a radio signal transmitted by a wireless portable processing device, or the absence of such a reception, in which said radio signal is a low-power radio signal transmitted by a low power radio interface of said wireless portable processing device.

Description

Method for reducing energy consumption and radio interference in a radio access node.

Field of technique

The present invention relates generally to a method for reducing energy consumption and radio interference at a radio access node, and more particularly to a method comprising turning radio sections on or off of the radio access node as a function of reception or absence of reception of low power radio signals.

The invention is intended in particular to provide network communication capabilities indoors, and in particular in homes and small offices.

State of the prior art

To provide such network communication capabilities, current technology relies on ADSL routers, which include telecommunication operator network access functionality, and indoor wired connectivity (eg wired supported Ethernet [1] UTP) and wireless (for example Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 [2 J).

Another existing technology for this application is based on the use of a fiber for home access to that of the operator (FTTH), normally implementing a GPON-type network. In this case, the network connection device installed in the customer's premises is an ONT [3]. The ONT provides access network connectivity, and indoor wired connectivity using Ethernet interfaces and UTP cables. In this case, if wired connectivity is required, an external Wi-Fi router is available. normally connected to one of ONT's Ethernet ports.

Another existing solution to provide indoor connectivity is a hybrid wireless gateway, a computer that integrates a mobile wireless access modem (for example, an HSPA modem), and wired Ethernet and Ni-Fi connectivity.

indoor wireless.

Another solution that is being used to provide indoor wireless connectivity is the ferntonode or ferntocell, called Domestic Node B or Domestic eNode B in 3GPP specifications [4]. A ferntonode is a simplified base station that provides mobile wireless coverage at the customer's premises, and which is connected to the telecommunication operator's main network through the copper or fiber access network.

On the other hand, Telefónica has filed the Spanish patent applications P200800878 and P200802049 that describe a "Radio Access Node", a multi-radio and multi-interface equipment to provide access functionalities and indoor network connection capabilities, based on a modular design in which simple plug-in modules are inserted into a base unit in order to add new communication interfaces, implementing radio technology defined by software to update the insert functionalities to new versions of the communication interfaces. In this context, a ferntonode can be considered as a simplified version of a radio access node.

Telefónica has also filed patent application P200930549, which describes a particular implementation of the "Radio Access Node", in which a multiplexed DVB-T content multiplexing is received from an access network based on

fiber

in the "Node of Access Radio", and the "Node of Access Radio"

transmit

of shape wireless a subset of this

multiplexed

by means, medium of a Interface radio DVB-T modified

than

works in the band ISM of 5 GHz.

Problems of existing solutions:

Any technical implementation to provide indoor wireless connectivity must deal with radio interference generated from other radio devices in the neighboring area. A radio interference is any radio signal

unwanted that overlaps the desired signal and reduces its signal to interference-to-noise ratio (SINR), thereby degrading the overall performance that can be achieved.

Some wireless indoor communication radio interfaces implement techniques to deal with radio interference. For example, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11n implements a dynamic frequency selection technique in order to select unoccupied channels. Other examples are the radio resource management planner algorithms that can be applied in Long Term Evolution (LTE) [5], which assign each user equipment the best radio resources at all times, taking into account counts the propagation conditions and the level of interference.

In general these are reactive methods, since they try to deal with the existing interference although they do not implement any method to really reduce it. The best method, as described in this patent application, is a preventative one that seeks to reduce unwanted radio emissions when they can be avoided. This can be done if the interfering radios are turned off when they are not needed, particularly when the customer is not at home.

The best preventive method of radio interference, as proposed in this invention, is to turn on the ferntonode, or any radio interface that could be supported by a radio access node, only when the user is at their premises

(home, office), and currently there is no solution that implements this method.

On the other hand, when the ferntonode or any other radio section is radiating when the client is not around, it also results in unnecessary energy consumption, which could be reduced if some shutdown method were implemented.

Some implementations have been proposed to turn off the radio section of a ferntonode when the user is not in the vicinity of his ferntonode [6] [7]; these solutions detect when the user equipment is residing in the microcell

closest to the femtonodo, in order to decide when to turn on

or turn off the femtonodo. When the user equipment is not residing in a predefined macro cell, it is assumed that it is far from the home and the femtonode is switched off, and when the user equipment enters its predefined macro cell, it is assumed that it is in the vicinity of its corresponding femtonode, which it turns on. However, these implementations have little value when the user equipment normally resides in the predefined macro cell, something very common in suburban and rural macro cells that provide wide coverage, or that can happen in dense urban areas depending on the habits of the client or the usage scenario.

Another existing implementation [8] turns off the transceiver section of the femtonodo when it is not supporting any active connection with a user equipment. In order to turn on the femtonodo when it must support an active connection, this implementation is based on the help of the closest macrocell that provides service; That serving macrocell detects when a user equipment that is included in the closed group of subscribers of the femtocell tries to establish an active connection with the macrocell, and in that case it sends an indication to the femtonodo to turn on, through the entity of mobility management and the so-called Sl interface, and then it passes the active connection to the femtocell. The problem with this solution is that in the event that the user equipment belongs to many groups of closed subscribers within the coverage area of the macro cell, the macro cell will not be able to know in any way which femto cell should be turned on. Another problem is that the user equipment can establish an active connection to the macrocell when it is not within the potential coverage area of the femtocell, and therefore that solution will turn on

the

femtocell of shape unnecessary. Other trouble is than

the

implementation

requires a traffic of signaling raised to

through

of the Interface Sl and load the entity of management of

mobility.

Another implementation [9] is based on a server

activation, which remotely turns the transceiver section of the femtonodo on or off. The criteria for the activation server to turn on or off the transceiver section of the femtonodo is the location of the user terminal, which is known to the activation server through GPS data reported by the user terminal, or deduced from the macrocell in which the user equipment is residing. The problem with this solution is that in many occasions the user terminal will not include a GPS receiver, and that some communication method will have to be implemented to transport the GPS data to the activation server. In the event that the location information is based on the macro cell that is residing, the same problems as those indicated for [6] and [7] may apply.

Another proposed implementation [10] for turning a base station on or off is based on the traffic load of a set of base stations, turning off some of them when the total traffic load is low enough. This implementation does not address the specific case of turning a femtonode on or off when the user is or is not within the coverage of the femtocell, since the criterion for switching is the total load of the surrounding macrocells. On the other hand, this implementation cannot work properly in those scenarios when only a set of specific user terminals are allowed to reside in a femtocell.

Another implementation [11] for turning a femtonode on or off is based on the detection of specific signal patterns transmitted by the user equipment, which requires a femtonode whose transceiver is turned off to periodically turn on the receiver section in order to power

detect

the Pattern of signs of equipment of user. The

implementation

too make possible turn on the section of

transceiver

of the femtonodo when I know receives a signal of

activation through the S1 interface, in order to make it possible for the user equipment to receive incoming calls

when the ferntonode is off. This implementation requires the user equipment to send a specific signal pattern on a regular basis, which increases its power consumption and battery drain, and which increases the radio resources used for signaling purposes, and the implementation requires that the Ferntonode periodically activates the receptor, which also increases its energy consumption. This implementation also has a significant impact on handover methods, because neither the user equipment will be registered in the ferntocell nor the user equipment will have the ferntocell registered in its list of neighboring cells.

On the other hand, document [12] is a 3GPP working document in which implementations from [6] to [11] are proposed as possible solutions for ferntonode switching, although it does not provide any further progress with respect to implementations described in those patent applications. The document [12] mentions the possibility of using a specific radio interface such as Bluetooth to determine when the user equipment is close to the ferntonode, although it does not address the problem of a specific implementation that makes it possible to minimize the energy consumption derived from such an interface. radius, as described in this invention.

Description of the Invention

It is necessary to offer an alternative to the state of the art, which considers the gaps found in it, providing a method whose implementation actually reduces the energy consumption and radio interference of a radio access node, to a high degree compared to conventional methods. cited in the previous section.

For this, the present invention refers to a method for reducing energy consumption and radio interference in a radio access node, which comprises turning on or off at least part of said radio access node depending on, respectively, the reception through said access node

radio, from a radio signal transmitted by a wireless portable processing device (such as a mobile phone, PDA, or any other portable user equipment), or the absence of such reception.

Unlike the closest prior art, that is, the proposal of [11], cited in [12] as scenario 4, in which said radio signal is of a specific signal pattern, the radio signal used according to the method The invention is a low power radio signal transmitted by a low power radio interface of said wireless portable processing device.

In an embodiment of the method of the invention said part of said radio access node for switching on or off comprises at least one radio section of ferntonode functionality and / or at least one more other radio section, and, optionally, also other units functional.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention said reception of said low power radio signal by the radio access node is carried out by means of a radio detection interface, the wireless portable processing device also comprising a radio detection interface, comprising the method using said radio detection interfaces to establish a short-range radio link between

they,

being bliss signal radio of low responsible power, to the

less

in part, of saying establishment of link radio of

short

scope.

In

a realization preferred, saying switched on or off of

at least part of said radio access node is also carried out as a function of, respectively, detecting the establishment / presence or disconnection / absence of said short-range radio link.

In some embodiments, said low power radio interface is one of a low power Bluetooth interface, a low power ultra wideband interface, and a low power Zigbee interface, although the invention is not limited to

no specific type of low power radio interface.

As for radio detection interfaces, these are, in different embodiments, IEEE radio interfaces.

802.15.1 Bluetooth Enhanced Data Transmission Rate / Basic Transmission Rate, IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth Low Energy Radio Interfaces, IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth Low Energy Radio Interfaces Using Proximity Profile for Mobile Phones for to perform automatic actions, IEEE 802.15 radio interfaces. Ultra-broadband 4a, Zigbee PRO feature sets, another interface-based solution

radio

IEEE 802.15.4-2006 and others interfaces  radio of short

scope.

The

method understands, in a realization, wear to cape

saying

switched on doing the next stages:

set a radio detection node of the radio access node to a default warning state, in which warning packets are emitted, while its radio functionality section of ferntonode and / or any other radio section is in its off state for default; -set the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device to a default initiation state in which the wireless portable processing device is searching for radio alert packets emitted from any radio access node detection radio interface included in a list of accessible radio access nodes; and:

-if as a result of said search, warning packets are detected in the wireless portable processing device, check, by the latter, whether the radio access node detection radio interface identification, or DRI-ID, included in the radio packets Detected warning is included in your list of accessible radio access nodes, and if so, change the detection radius interfaces of both the wireless portable processing device and the

radio access to a connection state in which

establishes said short-range radio link.

If the radio detection interfaces of the wireless portable processing device and the radio access node lose the connection state, said short-range radio link being disconnected, the method comprises bringing them back to their respective state of initiation and warning, and the Radio section of radio access node ferntonode functionality and / or any other radio section is turned off.

In one embodiment, if as a result of said search for

packages

radio of notice the Interface radio of detection of

device

of process nto portable wireless not detects

no

package of notice since  no node of access radio

included in said list of accessible radio access nodes, the method comprises keeping it in the initiation state.

In an alternative embodiment, if as a result of said search for radio warning packets the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device does not detect any warning packet from any radio access node included in said list of accessible radio access nodes, The method comprises checking, for a predetermined time, by means of the wireless portable processing device, if the wireless portable processing device is residing in any of the rnacrocells included in a list of overlapping fernto rnacrocells, and:

-if it is not residing in any of said micro-cells, the method comprises determining by means of the wireless portable processing device that the latter is neither in the vicinity of nor resides in its ferntonode, then switching its radio detection interface to the state in it waits and communicates with the radio access node to have it switch its radio detection interface to the standby state; -if you are residing in any of these micro-cells,

the method includes determining by means of the

wireless portable processing the latter is in

the neighborhood of its femtonodo although it does not reside in it,

then switch its radio detection interface to the state

of initiation and communicate with the radio access node

to have it switch its radio detection interface to

notice status;

The method also comprises, in one embodiment, updating a list of overlapping femto macrocells stored in said radio access node immediately upon shutdown of its femtonod radio transmitter section and prior to shutdown of its femtonod radio receiver section.

Once said short-range radio link has been established and the femtonodo functionality radio section and / or any other radio section is turned on, the method comprises, in one embodiment, checking, for a predetermined time, by means of the device for wireless portable processing and the radio access node, if the wireless portable processing device is residing in the radio access node femtonode functionality, and if so, switching the detection radius interfaces of the wireless portable processing device and node radio access to a standby state.

If, after said predetermined time has elapsed, said wireless portable processing device is not residing in the radio access node femtonode functionality, the method comprises two possible developments of said embodiment, or groups of actions to be performed.

In a first development, the method comprises switching the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device to its initiation state, the radio detection interface of the radio access node to its warning state, and turning off the radio section of femtonodo and / or any other radio section.

In a second development, the method involves checking whether

the radio detection interface of at least the wireless portable processing device is in its online state, and:

-

if so, the method comprises maintaining the radio section of radio access node femtonode functionality and any other radio section in its on state; or

if not, the method comprises switching the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device to its initiation state, the radio detection interface of the radio access node to its warning state, and turning off the radio functionality section of femtonodo and / or any other radio section. According to the method of the invention, in said waiting state

the radio detection interfaces neither transmit nor check the reception of any radio packet. In another embodiment, alternative to that described above with reference to establishing a link

radio

short, the reception of bliss signal  radio of low power

by

saying node of access radio I know makes  by means, medium of a

Interface

radio of detection supported by ID of

radiofrequency

of communications of countryside next passive, or

NFC-RFID,

than understands a device initiator, and saying

device

of processing portable wireless understands

also a radio detection interface unit comprising an NFC-RFID target device, the method comprising providing by means of said initiating device a carrier field and replying to it, by means of the target device, modulating the existing field and sending the resulting modulated signal to the initiating device, said signal being modulated, said radio signal being low power.

The method comprises, in one embodiment, carrying out said ignition by performing the following steps:

detecting by said initiating device said target device, an NFC, or NFCIDn, being included in said resulting modulated signal; and

check, the radio access node, if the recovered NFCIDn is included in a list of user equipment

accessible, and if so, turn on, by means of the radio access node, its radio section of ferntonode functionality and / or any other radio section.

Once the radio section of the ferntonode functionality and / or any other radio section is turned on, the method comprises, in one embodiment, checking, for a predetermined time, by means of the wireless portable processing device and the radio access node, if the wireless portable processing device is residing in the radio access node ferntonode functionality, and:

-

if so, keep the radio section of the ferntonode functionality and / or any other radio section in the on state; or

-

if you are not residing in the ferntonode functionality, turn off the radio section of the ferntonode functionality and / or any other radio section.

By means of the method of the invention, a reduction in energy consumption and radio interference is achieved, which improves energy efficiency and data throughput, in the use of ferontodes in the customer's premises, and in general in the use of multi-interface telecommunication nodes, called "Radio Access Node" in patent applications

P200800878

and P200802049. East method make possible commute to

any

Interface radio single when the client this in the

inside

its local.

A

"Node of Access Radio", such horn I know describes in the

Patent application P200800878, is equipment that is connected to the access network, in order to provide connectivity to the telecommunications operator network, and integrates as many wired and wireless interfaces as required to provide indoor connectivity, which can join the "Radio Access Node" or join units

modular inserts to be inserted into the base unit of "Radio Access Nodes". The "Radio Access Node" could also be called a multi-interface ferntonode.

The "Radio Access Node", to provide indoor wireless connectivity, uses the frequency bands that are available to a telecommunication operator; industrial, scientific, medical (ISM, Industrial, Scientific, Medical) free bands (for example 2, 4 -5 GHz), and proprietary licensed bands (for example 3G, LTE bands), and in a scenario where Many "Radio Access Nodes" are installed in many customer locations in the same building, so a high level of radio interference between "Radio Access Nodes" and a reduction in available performance are highly likely.

The method of the invention, as described above, is intended to turn off the radio sections of the "Radio Access Node", and, depending on the embodiment, some other of its building blocks, when the client is not in his address, reducing to if the average interference level for the other "Radio Access Nodes" and improving the accumulated performance. Another benefit of the customer is a reduction in the energy consumption of the equipment.

The shutdown method is based on the automatic detection of the client's presence by means of a low power radio interface activated on their mobile equipment, for example a low power UWB interface or low power Bluetooth. This radio interface is, in one embodiment, always active on the equipment although its low power characteristic does not significantly degrade battery life.

When the user arrives at his home, the "Radio Access Node" detects the low power radio interface of user equipment (normally the indoor range is in the order of 10 to 15 meters) and turns on the required radio interfaces and other blocks equipment, and the opposite is done when the user leaves their home and low-power radio interface connectivity is lost, turning off what is required.

The invention describes the connection-disconnection method between the "Radio Access Node" and the portable user equipment

by

means, medium of the Interface radio of low power, the methods of

switched on

and off, the impact in the consumption energetic, the

level

of interference and the performance global, the impact in

transfers

3GPP, the method of management remote specific of the

characteristic

of on off, and the application of

discovery of user equipment to support other network connection functionalities coordinated by the "Radio Access Node".

Brief description of the drawings

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be better understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should be considered in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:

Figure 1 shows elements involved in the invention, in one embodiment, including a radio access node, mobile user equipment and other communication devices, the dashed lines illustrated in the same indicating different communications established between them according to the method of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the same elements of the figure although it also represents some internal radio sections of the radio access node that, according to the method of the invention, have been turned on when the short-range communication link, established between the radio detection interfaces the radio access node and the mobile user equipment is active;

Figure 3 depicts the same elements as Figure 2, but in which the internal radio sections of the radio access node have been turned off due to disconnection of the short-range communication link, in one embodiment of the method of the invention;

Figure 4 is a flow chart representing a

realization

of the method of the invention with respect to a

process

of commutation of Interface radio of femtonodo not

assisted by PLMN;

Figure 5 is a flow diagram similar to that of Figure 4, although in one embodiment of the invention with respect to a femtonode radio interface switching method with femto non-PLMN assisted residence detection;

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the method of the invention, by means of a flow chart for a PLMN-assisted femtonode radio interface switching procedure;

Figure 7 schematically shows the communication between the radio access node and the portable user equipment according to an embodiment of the method of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a flow diagram similar to that of Fig. 4, although in an embodiment in which, instead of the femtonode radio interface, the switching procedure is applied to other radio interfaces of the radio access node;

Figure 9 is a flow diagram similar to that of Figure 5, although it also applies to other radio interfaces of the radio access node;

Figure 10 is a flow diagram similar to that of Figure 6, although in an embodiment where the switching procedure is applied to other radio interfaces of the radio access node; and

Fig. 11 shows, by means of another flow diagram, an embodiment of the method of the invention with respect to a radio interface switching procedure with detection of NFC-assisted femtonode residence.

Detailed description of various embodiments General architecture used by the method of the invention: In the simplest embodiment of this invention, the elements shown in figure 1 and described

later they are involved in the application of the

the invention.

A Radio Access Node (RAN), as described in patent applications P200800878 and P200802049, which is connected to the main network of the telecommunication operator through an access interface. A possible implementation of the access interface is an ADSL digital interface supported on the access copper pair. A radio access node is equipment that can incorporate one or many wireless or wired indoor communication interfaces to provide indoor communication services.

In one embodiment, the radio access node includes a fernode for mobile wireless communications, which supports a mobile radio interface, for example, but without excluding any other radio, GSM, UMTS or LTE interfaces. In another possible embodiment, the radio access node includes any other interface that could be used for indoor communications, for example, but without excluding other possibilities, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11, Zigbee IEEE 802.15.4 or PLC IEEE P1901.

The radio access node also includes a detection interface unit, for transmitting and receiving a radio detection interface (DRI). The radio detection interface is a short-range radio interface intended for detecting the proximity of the user equipment to the radio access node. The detection interface unit performs all the functions at the radio access node to support the radio detection interface, for example physical layer radio transmission and reception, medium access control or link layer control. The radio access node detection interface

I know

identifies by means, medium of a number of ID of

Interface

radio of detection (DRI-ID) The number of

ID

of Interface radio of detection is a

Unique identifier

for the unit of Interface of detection; by

example,

and without Exclude none other implementation, yes the

Interface

radio of detection I know implements by means, medium of a

Bluetooth low energy radio interface, the DRI-ID will be the address of the Bluetooth low energy device, as described in the Bluetooth Core 4 specification, Volume Section l.3.

The radio access node also includes a radio management unit. The purpose of the radio management unit is to determine where the user equipment is and to turn the radio section of the ferntonode and / or any other functional unit within the radio access node on or off.

The radio management unit of the radio access node stores a list of accessible user equipment, a list of user equipment that are authorized to connect to the radio access node and their corresponding radio detection interface identification numbers (DRI-IDs). ).

In an embodiment of this invention, user equipments are identified by means of their international mobile subscriber identities or IMSI. When a user equipment tries to reside in a ferntocell, sending a location update message, it is required to send its IMSI that identifies the subscriber in order to validate the access rights. If the IMSI is included in the list of accessible user equipment, the location update message will be forwarded to the mobile host network, and the user equipment will reside in the ferntocell. Otherwise, if the IMSI is not in the list, the ferntonode will reject the location update procedure with a location update reject message.

The radio management unit also stores a list of cells that are detected by the ferntonode functionality of the radio access node. These cells are public land mobile network (PLMN) micro-cells, for example, although without excluding any other implementation, for GSM, UMTS or LTE standards. The cell list is ordered from strongest to weakest, with a number of cells that can be predefined by the service provider or user. A subset of the

Stronger cells are defined as rnacrocells that

they will provide mobile PLMN coverage to a user equipment when it is in the vicinity of the radio access node, and its cell identifiers will be stored in a list of overlapping fernto cell cells. Cells are identified by their Global Cell Identification Number (CGI), a

number

than identifies of shape only a cell specific

inside

of its area of Location, net, and country. The CGI this

compound

by the MCC (Mobile Country Code, Code of country

Mobile), MNC (Mobile Network Code), LAC (Location Area Code), and Cell Identity (CI). The list of overlapping fernto rnacrocells will be generated when the radio access node's ferntonode functionality is activated for the first time, and each time there is a change in the rnacrocells that are detected by the ferntonode functionality. The detection of rnacrocells is carried out periodically and is usually carried out by the ferntonode radio receiver itself, and therefore the ferntonode interface is out of service for its duration.

The radio access node may include any other functionality that may be necessary to provide indoor communications and access to the telecommunications operator network. For example, but without excluding any other possibility, the radio access node may include an ADSL modem, ONT functionality, a router, an internal data storage unit or IPTV receiver, and decryption capabilities.

A user equipment (UE) is the equipment that a person uses to access any communication service through the radio access node. A possible embodiment of the user equipment is a mobile or cellular telephone, which can communicate with the radio access node's ferntonode functionality via a mobile radio interface, for example, but without excluding any other radio, GSM, UMTS or LTE. Another possible embodiment of the user equipment is an access point

IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi.

In this invention, the user equipment also includes a detection interface, for the transmission and reception of a radio detection interface. The radio detection interface is a short-range radio interface intended for detecting the proximity of the radio access node to the user equipment. The detection interface unit performs all the functions on the user equipment to support the radio detection interface, for example physical layer radio transmission and reception, medium access control or link layer control.

In this invention, the user equipment also includes a radio management unit. The purpose of the radio management unit is to determine where the user equipment is, and to assist in the process of turning the radio section of the ferntonode and / or any other functional unit within the radio access node on or off. The user equipment detection interface is identified by means of a radio detection interface identification number (DRI-ID). The radio detection interface identification number is a unique identifier for the detection interface unit; for example, and without excluding any other implementation, if the radio detection interface is implemented by means of a low-power Bluetooth radio interface, the

DRI-ID

will be the direction of device Bluetooth of low

Energy,

such horn I know describes in the specification Bluetooth

Core

4, Volume 6 Section 1.3.

The radio management unit of the user equipment stores a list of accessible radio access nodes, a list of radio access nodes to which it can connect. In one embodiment of this invention, this is a list of global cell identification numbers (CGIs) irradiated by ferntonods and their corresponding radio access node detection radio interface identification number (DRI-ID). The radio management unit User equipment can also store the list of overlapping radio access node ferro cells.

The end of detection interface units both in the

radio access node as in the user equipment is to support

a

Interface radio of detection, than I know uses for establish a

link

of communication wireless of short scope between the

node

of access radio and the team of user.

In

a realization of this invention, the link of

communication

wireless of short scope supported by the

Interface

radio of detection make possible decide when the

equipment

of user is located to a distance short of the node of

radio access, in the order of a few tens of meters. Once a short-range communication link has been established between the radio access node and the user equipment, the radio management unit at the radio access node proceeds to turn on any functional units at the radio access node that might considered necessary, and in particular the radio section of the ferntonode functionality, or any other radio section included in the radio access node. On the other hand, if the short-range communication link is disconnected, the radio management unit in the radio access node proceeds to shut down any functional unit in the radio access node that could be considered necessary, and in particular the radio section of the ferntonode functionality, or any other radio section included in the radio access node. This procedure can be applied to turn on and off any other radio section in the radio access node; for example and without excluding any other possibility, the radio section of an IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi interface.

In this way, it is possible to guarantee that the desired units of the radio access node, and in particular the radio section of the ferntonode functionality, can only be operational when the user equipment is inside or very close to the user site. same. Figures 2 and 3 show, in a very simplified way, the on and off procedure according to two embodiments of the method of the invention. Figure 2 shows that when the short-range communication link, supported by the radio detection interface, is active, the radio section of the access node

radio, and other functionalities, turn on. On the other hand, Figure 3 shows that when the short-range communication link, supported by the radio detection interface, is not active, the radio section of the radio access node, and other functionalities, can be turned off.

In one embodiment of this invention, the radio detection interface is an enhanced data transmission rate / basic transmission rate IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth radio interface. In another embodiment of this invention, the radio detection interface is a low energy IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth radio interface. In yet another embodiment of this invention, the radio detection interface is a low-energy IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth radio interface that uses the proximity profile for mobile phones to perform automatic actions. In another embodiment of this invention, the radio detection interface is an ultra wideband IEEE 802.15.4a radio interface. In another embodiment the radio detection interface is a set of Zigbee PRO features or any solution based on the IEEE 802.15.4-2006 radio interface. This invention does not exclude the use of any other radio interface to implement the radio detection interface, provided that it is a short-range radio interface that makes it possible to determine that the user equipment is less than a few tens of meters with regarding the radio access node.

Radio interface switching procedure for non-PLMN-assisted femtonode

FIG. 4 illustrates, by means of a state diagram, an embodiment of the method of the invention, in which the on and off procedure of the radio section of the femtonodo functionality of the radio access node is based only on a communication direct between the radio access node and the user equipment, without assistance from the public land mobile network (PLMN).

The description of the process to be carried out is based on a

Bluetooth radio interface of low energy for the implementation of the radio detection interface; this implementation is for indicative purposes only and is used only to provide a detailed description of the process, and does not exclude any other implementation of the radio detection interface.

As shown in Figure 4, the switching procedure is as follows. When the user equipment is powered on, the user equipment detection radio interface will be set to the default startup state. Regarding the radio access node, its radio detection interface will be in its default warning state, and its radio section of ferntonode functionality will be in its default off state. In the initiation state, the user equipment is searching for radio alert packets issued from any radio access node detection radio interface included in the list of accessible radio access nodes. If the radio detection interface of the user equipment does not detect any warning packet from any radio access node included in the list, it remains in the initiation state.

If warning packets are detected in the user equipment, the user equipment checks whether the DRI-ID radio access node of the radio warning detection interface is included in its list of accessible radio access nodes. If it is listed, both the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interfaces will change to the connection state. Once the short-range radio link connection has been established between the user equipment and the radio access node detection interface units, the radio access node will turn on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality.

During the period of time when the radio access node's ferntonode functionality is off and not radiating, any other radio access node with ferntonode functionality can be turned on and irradiating with the same pair of UARFCN and PSC values. Before turning on the

radio section of its ferntonode functionality, the radio access node has to check the validity of the previously used radio physical channel. This autoconfiguration procedure is performed whenever the ferntonode functionality is turned on. In one embodiment of this invention, a UMTS ferntonode functionality checks the previously used absolute radio frequency channel number UTRA (UARFCN) and the primary encryption code (PSC), and in case they are not being used it radiates the signal with the Same UARFCN and PSC values as used before shutdown. In the event that these values are being used, the ferntonode selects the UARFCN and PSC with the lowest power detected from a set of possible values.

In the event that the user equipment and radio access node detection radio interfaces lose the status of

Connection,

come back to its respective state of initiation and notice,

and

I know turns off the functionality of ferntonode of node of access

radio.

The

section of transmitter radio of works quality of

ferntonode

it remains off until The next time than the team

of

user and the interfaces radio  of detection  of node  of access

radio switch back to online state.

In one embodiment of this invention, the ferntonode functionality radio receiver section can be periodically turned on to perform detection of rnacrocells and thus update the list of overlapping fernto rnacrocells. In another embodiment of this invention, the list of overlapping fernto rnacrocells is updated immediately upon shutdown of the radio transmitter section of ferntonode and prior to shutdown of the radio receiver section in order to minimize the number of rnacrocell detection procedures. carried out when the radio section of the ferntonode functionality transmitter is turned on, because this procedure implies that the ferntonode interface is out of service for its duration.

In another embodiment of this invention, represented by the state diagram of Figure 5, the on / off procedure of the radio section of the ferntonode functionality of the radio access node is based on direct communication between the radio access node and user equipment, and also detects when the user equipment mobile interface resides in the radio access node ferntonode functionality to switch the user equipment and radio access node detection radio interfaces to the standby state.

The description of the process to be performed is based on the low energy Bluetooth radio interface for the implementation of the detection radio interface; this implementation is for indicative purposes only and is used only to provide a detailed description of the process, and does not exclude any other implementation of the radio detection interface.

As shown in Figure 5, the switching procedure is as follows. When the user equipment is powered on, the user equipment detection radio interface will be set to the default startup state. With respect to the radio access node, its radio detection interface will be in its default warning state, and its radio section of ferntonode functionality will be in its default off state. In the initiation state, the user equipment is searching for radio packets emitted from any radio interface

of

detection  of node  of access radio included in the list

of

nodes

of access radio accessible. Yes the Interface radio of

detection

of equipment of user not detects no package of

notice

since no node of access radio included in the list,

it remains in the state of initiation.

If alert packets are detected in the user equipment, the user equipment checks whether the radio access node DRI-ID of the radio alert detection interface is included in its list of accessible radio access nodes. If it is listed, both the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interface will change to the status of

Connection. Once the short-range radio link connection has been established between the user equipment and the radio access node detection interface units, the radio access node will turn on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality.

When the radio section of the ferntonode functionality is turned on, the mobile user equipment interface unit will attempt to reside in the ferntonode cell. Both the radio access node and the user equipment will wait a predetermined time (Camping Check Time) to check whether the user equipment already resides in the ferntonode cell.

When the user equipment tries to reside in a ferntocell with a location update message, it is required to send the IMSI that identifies the subscriber in order to validate the access rights. If the IMSI is included in the list of accessible user equipment, the location update message will be forwarded to the mobile core network, and the user equipment will reside in the ferntocell. Otherwise, if the IMSI is not in the list of accessible user equipment, the ferntonode will reject the location update procedure with a location update reject message.

The radio management unit of the user equipment can check if the mobile interface is residing in the radio access node ferntonode functionality by asking the mobile interface for the global cell identification of the cell in which it is residing, for example and without exclude any other implementation, by means of standard AT orders, as defined in 3GPP TS 27.007 "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Equiprnents; AT cornrnand set for User Equiprnent (EU)", and check whether the identification Cell global reported is in the list of radio accessible nodes accessible.

If the user equipment resides in the ferntonode cell

Before the residency check time has elapsed, both the radio access node and the user equipment detection radio interfaces will be switched to the standby state. In the standby state, the radio detection interface neither transmits nor checks the reception of any radio packet. There are two reasons for switching to the standby state; save battery power resources in the user equipment, and reduce the occupation of radio spectrum and the level of interference produced by the radio detection interface.

After the residency check time has elapsed, if the user equipment does not reside in the ferntonode cell, the user equipment detection radio interface will switch to the initiation state, and the access node detection radio interface The radio will switch to the warning state, and the radio section of the radio access node's ferntonode functionality will be turned off.

PLMN Assisted Ferntonode Radio Interface Switching Procedure

Another possible embodiment of this invention involves the collaboration of the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to minimize the period of time during which the radio detection interface is active in the user equipment and / or in the radio access node. Some examples of Public Land Mobile Networks are the GSM, UMTS or LTE network, although the use of any other type of PLMN is not excluded.

The objective of this procedure is to keep the radio detection interface of both the user equipment and the radio access node in the standby state for as long as possible, in order to reduce the battery power consumption of the user equipment, and reduce the radio interference produced by the radio detection interface of both the user equipment and the radio access node. This procedure maintains the radio access node and user equipment detection radio interfaces in the standby state for

all the time, with the exception of the occasions in which the user equipment resides in some of the rnacrocells listed in the list of overlapping rnacrocells of the ferntonode, although they do not reside in the ferntonode itself, since on these occasions the radio interfaces User equipment detection interfaces will switch to initiation state, and radio access node detection radio interfaces will switch to warning state.

The description of the process to be performed is based on the low energy Bluetooth radio interface for the implementation of the detection radio interface; this implementation is for indicative purposes only and is used only to provide a detailed description of the process, and does not exclude any other

implementation of

the interface radio of detection.

The

diagram of state of the process of commutation of

section

of access radio of ferntonode assisted by PLMN I know

It represents

in the figure 6.

Such

horn I know shows in the figure 6, the process of

commutation

is the following. When the equipment of user I know

turn on,

the interface radio of detection of equipment of user I know

will adjust

to the state of initiation by default. With respect to the

node

of access radio, its Interface radio of detection will be in

its

state of notice by default, and  its section radio of

Ferntonode functionality will be in its default off state. In the initiation state, the user equipment is searching for radio warning packets issued from the radio access node detection radio interface. If the user equipment detection radio interface does not detect the warning packets from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit checks whether the mobile user equipment interface is residing in some of the micro-cells included in the list of fernto overlapped micro-cells. The radio access node notifies the user equipment of the list of overlapping micro-cells fernto by means of a procedure which will be called notification of the list of overlapping micro-cells.

femto, which will be described later in this section.

If it is not residing in any of these macrocells, and warning packets are not detected from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit determines that the user equipment is neither in the vicinity of its femtonode nor resides in it, so that it switches its radio detection interface to the standby state, in order to save battery power. The user equipment radio management unit then commands the user equipment mobile interface unit to communicate with the radio access node radio management unit to switch its detection radio interface to the standby state, following a a procedure to be called RAN DRI macroidentification and switching, which will be described later in this section. This is done in order to reduce the level of radio interference generated by the radio access node detection radio interface.

If the user equipment detection radio interface does not detect the warning packets from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit checks whether the mobile user equipment interface is residing in some of the macro cells included in the list of overlapping macro cells femto. If you are residing in any of these macro cells, and warning packets are not detected from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit determines that the user equipment is in the vicinity of its femtonode although it does not reside in the same, so that it switches its radio detection interface to the initiation state (in case it was in the waiting state), and the user equipment radio management unit commands the user equipment mobile interface unit to communicate with the radio access node radio management unit to switch its radio detection interface to the warning state (if it was in the waiting state), following a procedure that will be described later in this section. This is done in order to allow the establishment of the communication link

Short-range supported by the radio detection interface between the radio access node and the user equipment, once the radio access node and the user equipment are close enough to each other.

If alert packets are detected in the user equipment, the user equipment checks whether the radio access node DRI-ID of the radio alert detection interface is included in its list of authorized radio access nodes. If it is listed, both the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interfaces will change to the connection state. Once the short-range radio link connection has been established between the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interface units, the radio access node will turn on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality.

For the period of time when the radio access node's ferntonode functionality is off and not irradiating, any other radio access node with ferntonode functionality can be turned on and irradiating with the same pair of UARFCN and PSC values. Before turning on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality, the radio access node has to check the validity of the previously used radio physical channel. This auto-configuration procedure is carried out whenever the ferntonode functionality is turned on. In one embodiment of this invention, a UMTS ferntonode functionality checks the previously used absolute radio frequency channel number UTRA (UARFCN) and the primary encryption code (PSC), and in case they are not being used it radiates the signal with the same UARFCN and PSC values as have been used prior to shutdown. In the event that these values are being used, the ferntonode selects the UARFCN and PSC with less energy detected from a set of possible values.

When the radio section of the ferntonode functionality is turned on, the user equipment mobile interface unit

will try to reside in the ferntonode cell. Both the node of

radio access as the user equipment will wait a while

predetermined

(weather of verification of home) for

check

yes the equipment of user resides in the cell of

ferntonode.

If the user equipment resides in the ferntonode cell after the residency check time has elapsed, both the radio access node and the user equipment detection radio interfaces will be switched to the standby state. In the standby state, the radio detection interface neither transmits nor checks the reception of any radio packet. There are two reasons for switching to the standby state; save battery power resources in the user equipment, and reduce the occupation of radio spectrum and the level of interference produced by the radio detection interface.

After the residence check time has elapsed, if the user equipment does not reside in the ferntonode cell, the user equipment detection radio interface will check whether the detection radio interface is still in the connection state with the radio access node. If the answer is yes, the radio section of the ferntonode in the radio access node will remain in the on state, however if the answer is no, the radio interface of detection of user equipment will switch to the initiation state, and the radio interface of Radio access node detection will switch to warning state, and the radio section of the radio access node ferntonode functionality will be turned off.

The ferntonode functionality radio transmitter section remains off until the next time the user equipment and radio access node detection radio interfaces switch back to the connection state.

In one embodiment of this invention, the radio receiver section of the ferntonode functionality is periodically turned on, in order to perform the rnacrocell detection procedure to update the list of

Overlapping rnacrocells fernto. In another embodiment of this invention, the list of overlapping fernto rnacrocells is updated directly after turning off the radio transmitter section of ferntonode and before turning off the radio receiver section in order to minimize the number of rnacrocell detection procedures carried out when the radio section of the ferntonode functionality transmitter is turned on, because this procedure implies that the ferntonode interface is out of service for its duration.

With respect to the RAN DRI switching procedure and macro identification, the process by which the user equipment radio management unit commands the user equipment mobile interface unit to communicate with the access node radio management unit Figure 7 shows a possible implementation of the process, in the event that the UMTS radio interface was being used as a mobile interface and the short message service (SMS). ) was also being used, although this invention does not exclude the use of any other

implementation

of the Interface mobile or any other

process

for communicate information between the equipment of

user

and the node of access radio.

The

process of commutation RAN DRI and ID

Macro starts when the user equipment does not detect radio warning packets from the radio access nodes included in the list of accessible radio access nodes, and checks if the mobile radio section of the user equipment resides in any of the micro-cells stored in the list of overlapping ferro cells. The mobile radio section can identify in which micro-cell it resides by extracting the global cell identification of the serving base station in which it is residing, and this information can be retrieved by the radio management section by means of standard AT commands, such as defined in 3GPP TS 27.007 "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Equiprnents; AT cornrnand set

for User Equiprnent (UE) ".

If the user equipment is not residing in any of the cells in the fernto overlapping macro cell list, and no warning packet is detected from the radio detection interface of an ineluded radio access node in the radio access node list accessible, the user equipment radio management unit determines that the user equipment is neither in the vicinity of nor resides in its ferntonode, so it switches its radio detection interface to the standby state and requests the interface radio access node detection radio that switches to the standby state. On the other hand, if the user equipment is residing in any of the cells included in the list of overlapping fernto macro cells, and no warning packet is detected from the radio detection interface of an ineluded radio access node in the list of accessible radio access nodes, the user equipment radio management unit determines that the user equipment is in the vicinity of, but resides in, its ferntonode, so it switches its radio detection interface to the initiation state

(if it is in the waiting state) and requests the radio access node detection radio interface to switch to the warning state (if it is in the waiting state).

The process of requesting the radio access node detection radio interface to switch to the waiting or warning states, in case the UMTS short message service is used, proceeds as follows.

The radio management unit of the user equipment requests that an SMS be sent to the PLMN of the telecommunications operator, as an example but without excluding any

other

implementation, by means, medium of orders AT standard to the

Interface

mobile. East SMS I know denom inara SMS of request of

commutation,

and It includes to) the IMSI of the equipment of user of

request, b) the CGI of the ferntocell within the radio access node to which the request is made, e) the specific request that is made, which can be to switch the radio interface of

radio access node detection to the waiting state or the warning state, d) a specific number, called the ferntonode configuration server number, as the destination of the SMS, which will be used by the short message service center to determine that the SMS is a switching request SMS. The switching request SMS is received at a macro cell Node B, which is connected to a radio network controller (RNC), which is connected to a UMTS mobile switching center

(U-MSC), which is connected to the Short Message Service Gateway MSC (SMS-GMSC), which ultimately routes the switch request SMS to the Short Message Service Center. The Short Message Service Center processes the Switch Request SMS like any other SMS, but when it detects that the destination number is in a locally stored list of Ferntonode Configuration Server numbers, it sends the contents of the Request for SMS message. switching to the ferntonode configuration server.

When the ferntonode configuration server receives a switching request SMS, it checks whether the requesting user equipment is one of the user equipment that is authorized to reside in the radio access node ferntonode, and in the event that When authorized, the Ferntonode Configuration Server sends an instruction to the Radio Access Node Radio Management Unit to switch its radio detection interface to the standby or warning state. In a possible embodiment of this invention, when the radio access node and its ferntonode functionality are connected to the telecommunication operator through an ADSL access network, this command is transmitted from the ferntonode configuration server to a gateway. security, from the security gateway through an IP network to the ADSL DSLAM, and from the DSLAM through the copper access line to the radio access node radio management unit.

With respect to the procedure of notification of the list of overlapping rnacrocells fernto, the process by which the node

Access code notifies the user equipment of the list of overlapping rnacrocells fernto, figure 7 shows a possible embodiment of the process, for the case in which the UMTS radio interface was being used as a mobile interface and the short message service (SMS) was also was being used, although this invention does not exclude the use of any other implementation of the mobile interface or any other method of communicating information between the user equipment and the radio access node.

The notification procedure for fernto overlapping micro-cell list starts every time there is a change in the list of radio access node fernto overlapping micro-cells. When there is a change, and including the first time the list is generated, the radio management unit of the list of overlapping micro-cells fernto of the radio access node will send the list of overlapping micro-cells fernto to the configuration server of ferntonode, through ADSL line, DSLAM, IP network, security gateway and access gateway. The ferntonode configuration server will store the list of fernto overlapping rnacrocells for each radio access node ferntonode functionality that it can control, and at the same time maintain a list of user equipment that can connect to each node ferntonode functionality. radio access. When a new version of the fernto overlapping microcell list is received on the ferntonode configuration server, or the first time this list is received, the ferntonode configuration server requests the short message service center to send an SMS to user equipment that can connect to that specific radio access node ferntonode functionality. This SMS includes the identification of the radio access node ferntocell: the CGI, and the list of overlapping fernto cell cells.

On / Off procedures for other radio interfaces not assisted by PLMN:

In one embodiment of this invention, the method of

Turning on and off any other radio section of the radio access node is based only on direct communication between the radio access node and the user equipment, without any assistance from the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Some examples of any other radio interface, which do not exclude any other possibility, are an IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi radio interface or Zigbee PRO feature set or any other IEEE 802.15.4 based solution.

The description of the process to be performed is based on the low energy Bluetooth radio interface for the implementation of the detection radio interface; this implementation is for indicative purposes only and is used only to provide a detailed description of the process, and does not exclude any other implementation of the radio detection interface.

The status diagram of the on and off procedure of other radio interfaces not assisted by PLMN is represented in figure 8.

As shown in Figure 8, the switching procedure is as follows. When the user equipment is powered on, the user equipment detection radio interface will be set to the default startup state. Regarding the radio access node, its radio detection interface will be in its default warning state, and any other radio interface sections could be in its default off state. In the initiation state, the user equipment is searching for radio warning packets issued from any radio interface

of

detection  of node  of access radio included in the list

of

nodes

of access radio accessible. Yes the Interface radio of

detection

of equipment of user not detects no package of

Warning from any radio access node included in the list, remains in the initiation state.

If warning packets are detected in the user equipment, the user equipment checks if the radio access node DRI-ID of the radio detection alert interface is included

in your list of accessible radio access nodes. If you are in the

list, both the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interfaces will change to the connection state. Once the short-range radio link connection has been established between the user equipment and the radio access node detection interface units, the radio access node will turn on any other radio sections that could

to be

included in the same. In the case of than the equipment of

user

and the interfaces radio of detection of node of access

radio

lose the state of Connection, come back to its state of

initiation

and notice respective, and can go out any

section

radio of node of access radio.

In another embodiment of this invention, the on and off procedure of any other radio section of the radio access node is based on direct communication between the radio access node and the user equipment, and also detects when the equipment mobile interface The user interface resides in the radio access node ferntonode functionality to switch the user equipment and radio access node detection radio interfaces to the standby state.

The description of the process to be performed is based on the low energy Bluetooth radio interface for the implementation of the detection radio interface; this implementation is for indicative purposes only and is used only to provide a detailed description of the process, and does not exclude any other implementation of the radio detection interface.

The state diagram of the switching procedure of other radio interfaces with non-PLMN assisted fernto residence detection is shown in Figure 9.

As shown in Figure 9, the switching procedure is as follows. When the user equipment is powered on, the user equipment detection radio interface will be set to the default startup state. Regarding the radio access node, its radio detection interface will be in its default warning state, and its radio

Ferntonode functionality and other radio sections will be in their default off state. In the initiation state, the user equipment is searching for radio warning packets issued from any radio access node detection radio interface included in the list of accessible radio access nodes.

Yes

the Interface radio of detection of equipment of user not

detects

no package of notice since no node of access

radio

included in the list, it remains in the state of

initiation.

If warning packets are detected in the user equipment, the user equipment checks whether the radio access node DRI-ID of the radio warning detection interface is included in its list of accessible radio access nodes. If it is listed, both the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interfaces will change to the connection state. Once the short-range radio link connection has been established between the user equipment and the radio access node detection interface units, the radio access node will turn on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality and any other sections radio that could be included in the radio access node.

Before turning on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality, the radio access node has to check the validity of the irradiated previous radio physical channel, which has been selected after exploring the radio environment, and therefore discarding any radio physical channel that is being used in order to avoid interference. This autoconfiguration procedure is always carried out when the functionality of the ferntonode and / or any other radio section is turned on.

When the radio section of the ferntonode functionality is turned on, the user equipment mobile interface unit will attempt to reside in the ferntonode cell. Both the radio access node and the user equipment will wait a predetermined time (residence check time) to check whether the user equipment resides in the ferntonode cell.

If the user equipment resides in the ferntonode cell after the residency check time has elapsed, both the radio access node and the user equipment detection radio interfaces will be switched to the standby state. In the standby state, the radio detection interface neither transmits nor checks the reception of any radio packet. There are two reasons for switching to the standby state; save battery power resources in the user equipment, and reduce the occupation of the radio spectrum and the level of interference produced by the radio detection interface.

After the residence check time has elapsed, if the user equipment does not reside in the ferntonode cell, the user equipment detection radio interface will check whether the detection radio interface is still in the connection state with the radio access node. If the answer is yes, the radio fernto section and other radio interfaces on the radio access node will remain in the on state, but if the answer is no, the user equipment detection radio interface will switch to the initiation state and the radio interface Radio access node detection will switch to warning state, and the radio section of the ferntonode functionality and any other radio sections within the radio access node will be turned off.

The radio transfer section of the ferntonode functionality remains off until the next time the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interfaces change back to the connection state. However, the ferntonode functionality radio receiver section can be periodically turned on to perform detection of rnacrocells and thus update the list of overlapping fernto rnacrocells. In fact, it could be updated directly after shutdown of the radio transmitter section and before shutdown of the radio receiver section in order to minimize the number of microcell detection procedures carried out.

out when the radio section of transmitter functionality

Ferntonode is on.

Switching procedure of other interfaces not assisted by PLMN:

Another possible embodiment of this invention involves the collaboration of the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to minimize the period of time during which the radio detection interface is active in the user equipment and / or in the radio access node. Some examples of Public Land Mobile Networks are the GSM, UMTS or LTE network, although the use of any other type of PLMN is not excluded. This procedure is foreseen for the commutation of any other radio section that could be included in the radio access node; Some examples of any other radio interfaces, which do not exclude any other possibility, are an IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi radio interface or ZigBee PRO feature set or any IEEE 802.15.4 based solution radio interface.

The objective of this procedure is to keep the radio detection interface of both the user equipment and the radio access node in the standby state for as long as possible, in order to reduce the battery power consumption of the user equipment, and reduce the radio interference produced by the radio detection interface of both the user equipment and the radio access node. This procedure

maintains

the node of access radio and the interfaces radio of

detection

of equipment of user in the state in wait during

everything

the weather, with the exception of the occasions in than the

User equipment is residing in the rnacrocell closest to the ferntonode although it does not reside in the ferntonode itself, since on these occasions the user equipment detection radio interfaces will switch to the initiation state, and the node detection radio interfaces will Radio access will switch to warning status.

The description of the process to be carried out is based on the

Bluetooth radio interface of low energy for the implementation of the radio detection interface; this implementation is for indicative purposes only and is used only to provide a detailed description of the process, and does not exclude any other implementation of the radio detection interface.

The state diagram of the PLMN assisted ferntonode radio access section switching procedure and other radio interface switching procedures is depicted in Figure 10.

As shown in Figure 10, the switching procedure is as follows. When the user equipment is powered on, the user equipment detection radio interface will be set to the default startup state. With respect to the radio access node, its radio detection interface will be in its default warning state, and its radio section of ferntonode functionality and any other radio section will be in its default off state. In the initiation state, the user equipment is searching for radio warning packets issued from the radio access node detection radio interface.

If the user equipment detection radio interface does not detect the warning packets from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit checks whether the mobile user equipment interface is residing in any of the micro-cells included in the the list of fernto overlapped micro-cells. The radio access node notifies the user equipment of the list of overlapping fernto micro-cells by means of the procedure called notification of the list of overlapping fernto micro-cells. If you are not residing in any of these microcells, and no warning packets are detected from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit determines that the user equipment is neither in the vicinity of your ferntonode nor resides in the same, so that it switches its radio detection interface to the standby state, in order to save battery power.

Then, the user equipment radio management unit

instructs the user equipment mobile interface unit to communicate with the radio access node radio management unit to switch its radio detection interface to the standby state, following a procedure called RAN DRI switching and macro identification. This is done in order to reduce the level of radio interference generated by the radio access node detection radio interface.

If the user equipment detection radio interface does not detect the warning packets from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit checks whether the mobile user equipment interface is residing in any of the micro-cells included in the the list of fernto overlapped micro-cells. If you are residing in any of these microcells, and no warning packet is detected from the radio access node, the user equipment radio management unit determines that the user equipment is in the vicinity of your ferntonode although it does not reside in the same, so that it switches its radio detection interface to the initiation state (in case it was in the waiting state), and the user equipment radio management unit commands the mobile equipment interface unit to user who communicates with the radio access node radio management unit to switch its radio detection interface to the warning state (if it was in the waiting state). This is done in order to allow the establishment of the short-range communication link supported by the radio detection interface between the radio access node and the user equipment, once the radio access node and the user equipment are close enough to each other.

If alert packets are detected in the user equipment, the user equipment checks whether the radio access node DRI-ID of the radio alert detection interface is included in its list of authorized radio access nodes. If it is listed, both the user equipment and the radio access node detection radio interfaces will change to the status of

Connection. Once the short-range radio link connection has been established between the user equipment and the radio access node detection interface units, the radio access node will turn on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality and any other sections radio included in the radio access node.

Before turning on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality, the radio access node has to check the validity of the irradiated previous radio physical channel, which has been selected after exploring the radio environment, and therefore

discard

any channel physical radio than this using with the

end

of avoid interference. East process of

autoconfiguration

I know carries to cape forever than I know turn on the

functionality of

ferntonode.

When

the section radio of the functionality of ferntonode I know

comes on, the user equipment mobile interface unit will attempt to reside in the ferntonode cell. Both the radio access node and the user equipment will wait for a predetermined time (residence check time) to check whether the user equipment resides in the ferntonode cell.

If the user equipment resides in the ferntonode cell after the residency check time has elapsed, both the radio access node and the user equipment detection radio interfaces will be switched to the standby state. In the standby state, the radio detection interface neither transmits nor checks the reception of any radio packet. There are two reasons for switching to the standby state; save battery power resources in the user equipment, and reduce the occupation of the radio spectrum and the level of interference produced by the radio detection interface.

After the residency check time has elapsed, if the user equipment does not reside in the ferntonode cell, the user equipment detection radio interface will check whether the detection radio interface is still on the

connection status with the radio access node. If the answer is yes, the radio section of femtonodo and other radio interfaces on the radio access node will remain in the on state, but if the answer is no, the user equipment detection radio interface will switch to the initiation state, and the Radio access node detection radio interface will switch to warning state, and the radio section of femtonodo functionality and any other radio section of radio access node will be turned off.

The femtonodo functionality radio transmitter section remains off until the next time the user equipment and radio access node detection radio interfaces switch back to the connection state. However, if the femtonodo functionality radio receiver section is used to perform macro cell detection to update the list of overlapping femto macro cells, it should be turned on periodically. In fact, the list could be updated immediately after turning off the radio transmitter section and before turning off the radio receiver section in order to minimize the number of macrocell detection procedures carried out when the radio transmitter section of femtonodo is on.

Switching procedure femtonodo and other radio sections based on NFC RFID

In another embodiment of this invention, illustrated by Figure 11, the on / off procedure of the radio section of the femtonodo functionality and any other radio section of the radio access node is based on direct communication between the access node radio and user equipment,

basing

in a Interface radio of detection supported by

ID

of frequency radio of communications of countryside

next

(NFC-RFID) and also detects when the mobile interface of

equipment

of user resides in the functionality of femtonodo of

radio access node to switch user equipment and

interfaces radio detection of radio access node to the state

on hold.

This embodiment of the invention uses short range 13.56 MHz passive near field communications radio frequency identification (NFC-RFID) via magnetic field induction. This embodiment of the invention uses the passive NFC-RFID communication mode as described in the "ECMA-340 Near Field Cornrnunication Interface and Protocol" [13], in which an initiating device is included in the access node radio and a target device is included in the user equipment. The initiator provides a carrier field and the target device responds by modulating the existing field. In this mode, the target device extracts its

power

of functioning of the countryside electromagnetic

provided

by the initiator, and by so much not extract none

power of

the battery equipment of user.

In

this realization of the invention, the Interface radio of

Detection of user equipment is based on a passive mode NFC-RFID target device (ECMA-340, 4.23 Target) in the detection state (ECMA-34 O, 11.2 .1. 9 Detection state), which can be identified by your NFC Identifier

(NFCIDn) (ECMA-340, 4.16 NFC Identifier). On the other hand, the radio access node detection radio interface is based on an NFC-RFID initiator device (ECMA-340, 4.7 Initiator) that can be identified by means of its NFC identifier (NFCIDn).

The ECMA-340 transport protocol (ECMA-340 12 Transport Protocol) is managed in three parts: i) activation of the protocol, which includes the request of attributes and the selection of parameters, ii) the data exchange protocol, iii ) deactivation of the protocol including deselection and release. This invention is not restricted to any specific transport protocol procedure among those specified in ECMA-340, provided that as a result of the exchange of information between the initiator and the target, the initiator retrieves the NFC identifier of the target included in

the user equipment.

In this embodiment of the invention, the user will bring the user equipment to an interval of a few centimeters with respect to the radio access node, in order to allow the initiator to detect the target, and then the ferntonode radio section will be turned on. As noted above, the state diagram of the NFC RFID-based ferntonode switching procedure and other radio sections is depicted in Figure 11.

As shown in Figure 11, the switching procedure is as follows. When the user equipment is powered on, the radio access node ferntonode functionality radio section or any other radio section will be in its default off state.

When the radio access node NFC initiator detects the user equipment target, it retrieves its NFCIDn. Then, the radio access node radio management unit checks whether the NFCIDn is included in its list of accessible user equipment. If it is listed, the radio access node will turn on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality or any other radio section.

Before turning on the radio section of its ferntonode functionality, the radio access node has to check the validity of the irradiated previous radio physical channel, which has been selected after exploring the radio environment, and therefore

discard

any channel physical radio than this using with the

end

of avoid interference. East process of

autoconfiguration

I know carries to cape forever than this lit the

functionality of

ferntonode.

Any

other section radio than need check the

environment

radio for to select its channel radio physical before of

start

to radiate will act shape Similary.

When the radio section of the ferntonode functionality is turned on, the user equipment mobile interface unit will attempt to reside in the ferntonode cell. The access node

The radio will wait for a predetermined time (residency check time) to check whether the user equipment resides in the femtonod cell.

When the user equipment tries to reside in a femtocell with a location update message, it is required to send the IMSI that identifies the subscriber in order to validate the access rights. If the IMSI is included in the list of accessible user equipment, the location update message will be progressed to the main network, and the user equipment will reside in the femtocell. Conversely, if the IMSI is not in the access control list, the femtonodo will reject the location update procedure with a location update reject message.

If the user equipment resides in the femtonodo cell after the residency check time has elapsed, the femtonodo functionality radio section or any other radio section will remain in the on state. If the user equipment does not reside in the femtonode cell, or leaves the femtonode cell once it previously resides in it, the radio access node will turn off the femtonode functionality of the radio access node and any other radio functionality included in the same.

The femtonodo functionality radio transmitter section remains off until the next time the user equipment and radio access node detection radio interfaces switch back to the connection state. However, the femtonodo functionality radio receiver section can be periodically turned on to perform macrocell detection and thus update the list of overlapping femto macrocells. In fact, it could be updated directly after turning off the radio transmitter section and before turning off the radio receiver section in order to minimize the number of macrocell detection procedures carried out when the radio transmitter section of ferntonode functionality is turned on .

With respect to the list of accessible user equipment, it is a list that is stored in the radio management unit of the radio access node, and includes the IMSI numbers and NFCIDn numbers of the NFC targets of the user equipment that are authorized to connect to the radio access node.

Other actions on the customer's premises team

In another embodiment of this invention, all the procedures that have been described so far to turn on or off the radio section of the ferntonode functionality, or any other radio section of the radio access node, can be applied to perform any other action on the radio node. radio access or any other equipment that could be connected to the radio access node. Some examples of this embodiment, although without excluding any other implementation, are i) turning on or off some internal functionalities of the radio access node, such as an internal incarnator, ii) performing

Actions

on teams connected to the node of access radio, such

horn

Activate a system of alarm or cont roll lighting ion,

heating,

etc.

Advantages of the invention

The main advantage of this invention, as described in this specification, is to turn off any unnecessary radio emission from a ferntonode, or any other indoor radio interface, when the user is not very close to the ferntonode. In this way, the average level of interference in an office or building of multiple premises can be reduced statistically, since in many occasions many ferontodes will not be irradiating, and then the active ferontodes and the rnachron node layer will experience less interference, giving them the possibility to provide higher overall performance for customers. On the other hand, when the ferntonode or any other radio section is

radiating when the client is not around also gives as

Unnecessary energy consumption results, which can be reduced by implementing the shutdown procedure of this invention.

As an example, some simulations have been performed to analyze the average overall performance that an LTE ferntonode can provide in a single apartment, without interference or with interference from neighboring apartments. The results have shown an overall throughput greater than 2 4 Mbps throughout the apartment area when there is no interference (ferntonode in the center of the apartment, 20 MHz bandwidth, 15 dBrn power), and an overall throughput less than 1 Mbps in a certain area of the apartment when there is interference from another ferntonode

(Ferontodes on one side of the apartment partition wall, 20 MHz bandwidth, 15 dBrn power)

Some implementations have been proposed to turn off the radio section of a ferntonode when the user is not in the vicinity of his ferntonode [6] [7]; these solutions detect when the user equipment is residing in the rnacrocell closest to the ferntonode, in order to decide when to switch on

or turn off the ferntonode. These implementations are of little value when the user equipment is normally residing in the predefined micro-cell, which is very common in micro-cells.

suburban

and rural than provide a coverage wide, or

than

can happen in areas urban dense depending of the

habits

of the client or the stage of use.

The

advantage of this invention with respect to others

existing solutions is that it turns on the ferntonode, or any radio interface that could be supported by a radio access node, only when the user is within its premises

(home, office), thanks to the help of a short-range radio interface between the ferntonode and the user terminal.

One skilled in the art could make changes and modifications to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Acronyms and abbreviations

ADSL CGI

DRI DRI-ID

DSLAM FTTH GSM HSPA IMSI IP LAC LTE MCC MNC NFCIDn

NFC-RFID

ONT PLC PLMN RAN RNC SMS SMSC SMS-GMSC UE UMTS U-MSC UTP UWB WiFi

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line Global cell identification Cell identity Radio detection interface

Radio detection interface identification number

Digital subscriber line access multiplexer

Fiber at home

Mobile Task Force

High-speed packet access International mobile subscriber identities

Internet protocol

Location area code

Long-term evolution

Mobile country code

Mobile network code

Near field communications identification number Near field communications radio frequency identification

Optical network terminator

Power line communications

Public land mobile network

Radio Access Node

Radio network controller

Short message service

Short Message Service Center

Short Message Service Gateway MSC

User equipment

Universal mobile telecommunication system

UMTS Mobile Switching Center

Unshielded twisted pair

Ultra wide band

Wireless fidelity

REFERENCES

[1 J

IEEE 802.3 Carrier sense multiple access with

Collision

Detection (CSMA / CD) Access Method and

Physical Layer Specifications ".

[2]

IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Medium Access Control

(MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications.

[3] ITU-T G. 984.1 "Gigabit-capable passive optical networks (GPON): general characteristics".

[4] 3GPP TS 25.467 "UTRAN architecture for 3G Home Node B (HNB); Stage 2".

[5] 3GPP TS 36.133 "Requirements for support of radio resource management".

[6] Patent application US 2009/0285143 Al, November 19, 20 O9, "Apparatus and method for saving power of femto base station in wireless communication system".

[7] US Patent Application 2010/0002614 Al, January 7, 2010 "Low power modes for femto cells".

[8] Patent application WO 2010/052112 "Reducing interference and energy consumption for femto base stations".

[9] Patent application WO 2010 / 027569Al "Presence-aware cellular cornrnunication system and method".

[10] Patent application EP 2056628Al "Communication network element and method of switching activity states".

[11] Document EP 2157824A "Network node, network and a method for waking up a network node".

[12] 3GPP R3-080658 "Dynamic Setup of HNBs for Energy Savings and Interference Reduction". TSG RAN WG3 Meeting # 59bis, Shenzhen, China, March 31-April 3, 2008.

[13] ECMA-340 Near Field Cornrnunication Interface and Protocol.

Claims (19)

l.

2.

3.

Four.

5.

Method for reducing energy consumption and radio interference in a radio access node, comprising turning on or off at least part of said radio access node depending on, respectively, the reception by said radio access node, of a radio signal transmitted by a wireless portable processing device, or the absence of such reception, in which said method is characterized in that said radio signal is a low-power radio signal transmitted by a low-power radio interface of said wireless portable processing device. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least part of said radio access node for turning on or off comprises at least one radio section of femtonode functionality and / or at least one other radio section. Method according to claim 2, wherein said at least part of said radio access node for turning on or off also comprises other functional units. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said reception of said low power radio signal by said radio access node is performed by means of a radio detection interface, said wireless portable processing device also comprising a radio detection interface , the method comprising using said radio detection interfaces to establish a short-range radio link between them, said low-power radio signal being responsible, at least in part, for said short-range radio link establishment. Method according to claim 4, wherein said ignition or shutdown of at least part of said radio access node is also carried out as a function of, respectively, detecting the establishment / presence or disconnection / absence of said short-term radio link scope.

6.

Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said low power radio interface is one of a low power Bluetooth interface, a low power ultra wideband interface and a low power Zigbee interface.

7.

Method according to claim 6, when it depends on claim 5, in which said radio detection interfaces are one of IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth interfaces with improved data transmission rate / basic transmission rate, IEEE 802.15.1 radio interfaces Low energy Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15.1 radio interfaces Low energy Bluetooth using proximity profile for mobile phones to perform automatic actions, IEEE 802.15.4a ultra wideband radio interfaces, Zigbee PRO feature sets, other solution based on IEEE 802.15.4-2006 radio interfaces and other short-range radio interfaces.

8.

Method according to claim 5, which comprises carrying out

Carry out said power-up by performing the following steps: set a radio detection interface of the radio access node to a default warning state, in which warning packets are emitted, while its radio functionality section is ferntonode and 1st any other section radio is in its default off state; set the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device to a default initiation state where the wireless portable processing device is looking for radio alert packets issued from any radio access node detection radio interface listed of radio access nodes accessible; and: -if, as a result of said search, warning packets are detected in the processing device 9.

10.

eleven.

wireless portable, check, by the latter, if the access node detection radio interface identification, or DRI-ID, included in the detected warning packets is included in its list of accessible radio access nodes, and if so , change the radio detection interfaces of both the wireless portable processing device and the radio access node to a connection state in which said short-range radio link is established. The method according to claim 8, wherein if the radio detection interfaces of the wireless portable processing device and the radio access node lose the connection state, said short-range radio link being disconnected, the method comprises bringing them back to their respective status of initiation and warning, and the radio section of the ferntonode functionality of

node

of access radio and 1st any other section radio I know

turns off.

Method

according the vindication 8, in the than yes horn

Outcome

of bliss search of packages radio of notice the

radio detection interface of wireless portable processing device does not detect any warning packet from any radio access node included in said list of accessible radio access nodes, the method comprises keeping it in the initiation state. Method according to claim 8, wherein if as a result of said search of radio warning packets the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device does not detect any warning packet from any radio access node included in said list of radio nodes. Accessible radio access, the method comprises checking, for a predetermined time, by means of the wireless portable processing device, whether the wireless portable processing device is residing in some of the micro-cells included in a list of overlapping femto macrocells, and: if you are not residing in any of these macro cells, the method involves determining through the device wireless portable processing that the latter doesn't is neither in the vicinity of its femtonodo nor resides in the same, then switch your radio detection interface to the standby state and communicate with the access node radio to make it switch its radio interface from standby status detection; if you are residing in any of these macrocells, the method involves determining through the device wireless portable processing that the latter is in the vicinity of its femtonodo although it does not reside in the same, then toggle its radio interface on detection to the initiation state and communicate with the radio access node to make it switch its interface detection radio to warning status;

12.

Method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising updating a list of overlapping femto macrocells stored in said radio access node immediately after the shutdown of its femtonode radio transmitter section and before the shutdown of its femtonode radio receiver section.

13.

Method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, which comprises, once said short-range radio link has been established and the radio section of femtonodo functionality and any other radio section is turned on, check, for a predetermined time, by means of the wireless portable processing device and the radio access node, if the wireless portable processing device is residing in the radio access node femtonode functionality, and if so, switching the detection radius interfaces of the portable processing device wireless and the radio access node to a standby state.

14.

Method according to claim 13, when it depends on the

Claim 11, wherein after said predetermined time has elapsed, said wireless portable processing device is not residing in the radio access node femtonode functionality, the method comprises switching the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device to its initiation state, the radio detection interface of the radio access node to its warning state, and turn off the radio section of femtonodo functionality and / or any other radio section.

fifteen.

Method according to claim 13, when it depends on claim 12, in which if said predetermined time has elapsed, said wireless portable processing device is not residing in the functionality of radio access node femtonode, the method comprises checking if the radio interface of detection of at least the wireless portable processing device is in its online state, and:

if so, the method comprises maintaining the radio section of radio access node femtonode functionality and / or any other radio section in its on state; or if not, the method comprises switching the radio detection interface of the wireless portable processing device to its initiation state, the radio detection interface of the radio access node to its warning state, and turning off the radio section of femtonodo functionality and any other radio section.

16.

Method according to claim 11 or 13, wherein in said waiting state the radio detection interfaces neither transmit nor check the reception of any radio packet.

17.

Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, in

which said reception of said low radio signal power through said radio access node is performed by means of a radio detection interface supported by radio frequency identification of communications passive near field, or NFC-RFID, comprising a initiating device, and said processing device wireless notebook also includes a radio detection interface comprising a device NFC-RFID target, comprising the method provide by means of said initiating device a carrier field and reply to it, through the target device, modulating the existing field and sending the modulated signal resulting to the initiating device, said signal being said low power radio signal modulated.

18.

Method according to claim 17, comprising carrying out

effect said ignition by performing the following steps: detecting by said initiating device said target device, an NFC or NFCIDn identification being included in said resulting modulated signal; and check, the radio access node, if the recovered NFCIDn is included in a list of accessible user equipment, and if so, turn on, through the radio access node, its radio femtonodo functionality section and / or any another radio section.

19.

Method according to claim 18, wherein once the radio section of femtonodo functionality and / or any other radio section is turned on, the method comprises checking, for a predetermined time, by means of the wireless portable processing device and the node of radio access, if the wireless portable processing device is residing in the radio access node femtonodo functionality, and:

if so, keep the femtonodo functionality radio section and / or any other radio section in the state switched on; or if you are not residing in the ferntonode functionality, turn off the radio section of the ferntonode functionality and / or any other radio section.